Dr Andrea Juan
Dr Andrea Juan is the Director of Impact & Evaluation in the Research Impact division at the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC). She is a senior social science researcher and evaluation specialist with expertise in embedding impact thinking within research design, strengthening evaluation systems, and translating evidence into policy and practice.
Dr Juan holds a PhD in Policy and Development Studies from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, where her doctoral work examined governance and policy management in South Africa's further education and training sector. She has advanced training in monitoring and evaluation, policy analysis, and evidence-informed policymaking.
She joined the HSRC in 2008 as a Master's intern and has since held several senior research roles. Her work spans large-scale national and international studies, including long-standing involvement in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) and co-leading a multi-country longitudinal study on African graduate transitions funded by the Mastercard Foundation.
Her research focuses on education systems, youth transitions, and the use of evidence for decision-making, with a strong emphasis on measuring and demonstrating research impact. She has led and contributed to projects for national departments including Basic Education, Higher Education and Training, Science and Innovation, and Labour.
Dr Juan is also an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and Associate Editor for the African Journal of Research in Mathematics, Science and Technology Education (AJRMSTE). She has an extensive publication record with over 35 peer-reviewed publications, and is committed to making research accessible through policy engagement, public communication, and innovative dissemination formats.
